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San Dimas introduces municipal-code changes to clarify multifamily "by right" housing uses required by state review
Summary
City staff told the council that the amendment clarifies language the Department of Housing and Community Development requested so multifamily uses on certain housing sites are explicitly permitted by right; council introduced Ordinance 1336 and the motion carried 4-0.
City planning staff told the San Dimas City Council on March 24 that the city is proposing Municipal Text Amendment 26-02 (Ordinance 1336) to revise the municipal code's definition of permitted multifamily uses in three chapters so designated housing sites remain explicitly available for by-right multifamily development under the 2021'2029 housing-element cycle.
Community Development Director Luis Turrico said the amendment is a city-initiated change prompted by follow-up from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). HCD asked for clearer language that references government-code sections and minimum densities and makes explicit that certain multifamily uses do not require discretionary approval so they are processed as by-right developments. "This amendment modifies three chapters in our municipal code... It's just HCD wanting to have specific language in our code," Turrico said.
No members of the public spoke during the public hearing on the item. Council moved to introduce Ordinance 1336, which updates Title 18 (multiple-family zone), the Downtown Specific Plan, and Specific Plan 23 to add the HCD-recommended language; the motion to introduce carried on a 4-0 vote. Staff said the change will not alter how applications are processed locally but is intended to keep the city in compliance with its housing element commitments.
Next steps: the ordinance will proceed through the required readings and final adoption steps. Staff noted the change is exempt from CEQA pursuant to the stated section in the staff report.
